Sign



May 1. 1928.

E. PICKETT SIGN Filed Sept. 17, 1927 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 1, 1928.

; UNITED STATES i 1,668,378 PATENT OFFICEQ},

njnwnm rrcxn'r'i; or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

r siren.

Application filed'SIeptember 17, 192'7.' Serial No. 220,209.

More particularly, the present invention aims to provide asimple and practical form of frame for removably holding sign cards or plates 'so that the latter will effectively remain in position while beingcapahle of readyinsertio'n or removal.

A further object is to provide .a sign frame of the above kind which maybe conveniently assembled or taken apart. Still another object is to provide an improved sign holder including a supporting post and a sign frame so associated as to provide effective mounting of the frame and to permit ready application of the frame to or removal of the same from the supporting post. e

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood,

and the same consists in the novel form,

combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter moi'e fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein likereferencc characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, y I

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a sign holder constructed in accordance witlrthapresent invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

Figure 8 is a horizontal section on line III-III of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line IV-IV of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line VV of Figure 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the present invention embodies a frame for removably holding a plurality of sign plates or cards, said frame being of rectangular form and embodying similar top and bottom frame plates or boards 5 and 6 and similar end plates or boards 7 having transverse grooves 8 in the ends thereof into which the ends of the boards 5 and 6 are snugly fitted and suitably removably secured. In the form of construction shown, the frame also includes an intermediate horizontal frame plate or board 9 disposed parallel with and midway between the top and bottom frame plates 5 and 6, and having its ends snugly fitted andremovably held in intermediate transverse grooves 10 provided in the inner faces of the end or side frame:

A convenient manner'of rigidly plates 7 holding the frame members assen'ibled may consist in driving screws throughthe side. or end frame members 7 and into the ends,

of the frames '5, ('5, and 9.-

A pair of spaced parallel grooves llarc:

formed in theupper surface of the bottom frame plate 6v parallel with and adjacent the longitudinal edges of the latter, and

provided inthe under surface of-the intermediate frame plate 9 are correspondlng grooves 12 which cooperate with the grooves 11 to form horizontal guideways adapted for removable sliding reception of'suitable sign plates or cards, one of the guide ays opening through one of the side frame members 7 by the provision of a vertical slot 13 in the latter, and the other guideway open-- ing through the other side frame member7 by the provision of a similar vertical slot 1 1 in the latter. The side frame members 7 have vertical grooves 15 formed in the,

inner surfaces thereof at the other ends of the guideways, respectively, to receive the ends of the sign plates or cards, when inserted; In a like manner, a pair'of grooves 11 are provided in the upper surface of the intern iediate frame plate 9 adjacent to and parallel with the longitudinal edges of the latter, while similar parallel longitudinal grooves 12* are formed in the under surface of the top frame plate 5 to cooperate with the grooves 11 and form a pair of horizontal guideways for removable sliding reception of a further pair of sign cards or plates in the upper part of the frame, one of the latter guideways opening throu h one of the side frame members 7 by t e provision of a vertical slot 13 in the latter, and the other of the latter guideways opening through the side frame member 7 by the provision of a vertical slot 14 in the latter. Further, the side frame members 7 are provided in their inner surfaces with vertical grooves 15 at the other ends of the second pair of guideways for receiving the adjacent ends of the further sign cards or plates when inserted in the second pair of guideways. It will be noted that the slots 13 and 13 and 14 and 14 in the respective side frame members 7 are in staggered or laterally offset relation so as to not unduly weaken these frame members and to enable the use of the side frame members interchangeably. In other words, the side frame members are identical or similar and adapted for interchangeable use at either side of the frame.

The above construction provides a very durable form of multiple sign plate holders, but it is evident that the intermediate member 9 may be eliminated together with the slots 13 and 14, so as to provide a sign vided in the bottom frame member 6 and intermediate frame member 9 and to have its upper end abut the lower surface of the upper frame member 5 between the grooves 12". The openings 17 are provided intermediate the ends of the frame members 6 and 9 and between the grooves 11, 12 and 11 By reason of this construction, the frame may be readily lifted off of the post as well as placed thereon, and when in position on the post, the frame is effectively supported against displacement and particularly against turning by reason of the angular form of the post and the openings 17. The lower end of post 16 preferably has outwardly projecting triangular anchoring fins 18 upon the sides thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and durable form of sign plate or card holder in tiously assembled or taken apart without the aid of special skill or tools.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. For instance, only one side of the frame may be formed for recep tion of a sign plate or sign plates, while in cases. where exceptionally long frames are employed, two or more spaced supporting posts may be used in an obvious manner. Moreover, the guideways may open through the top and bottom of the frame instead of the sides'thereof, and by using the proper type of sign plates, they may be illuminated by arranging the necessary source or sources of light within the frame in a general wellknown manner. The necessary space for the latter purpose is provided for, by reason of the use of the wall boards in box-like formation, and this also permits ready mounting of ornaments or road markers 011 the sides of the frame.

VVhatI claim as new is: y

In a sign, a frame including side, upper and bottom wall boards, opposite ones'of said wall boards having grooves in the inner surfaces thereof parallel with and adjacent the longitudinal edges of the same to form guideways for removable slidable reception of sign plates, each of the remaining wall boards being provided with means to facili tate insertion of a sign plate into and removal of the same from one of said guideways.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD PICKETT. 

